Destruction: A Study in 2 KingsSample

What does it say?

King Hezekiah pleaded with God for healing, and his life was spared. Isaiah prophesied that Hezekiah’s descendants would be taken captive by the Babylonians.

What does it mean?

Without a doubt, Hezekiah experienced God’s blessing when he was healed, and his life was extended by 15 years. Unfortunately, Hezekiah made a costly mistake in judgment when his pride led to a desire to impress people rather than honor God. He proudly revealed the glory of his kingdom, his wealth, and his military resources to ambassadors from Babylon. Isaiah confronted Hezekiah with his unwise actions and prophesied Judah’s captivity by the very nation he wanted to impress. Although Hezekiah was Judah’s king, he needed to be reminded that the Sovereign Lord is in command.

How should I respond?

As believers, we must be on guard against spiritual pride. The desire to impress others can draw us away from God’s direction, causing us to make poor decisions based solely on our knowledge and understanding. Although God has given us free will, He wants us to make choices based on His wisdom and guidance. Those decisions ultimately offer us greater satisfaction as well as protection. Think over the past week. What choices did you make as a result of pride rather than prayer? Taking time to seek godly wisdom in Scripture and prayer will prepare you to make better decisions today.